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7 months ago
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From dream to nightmare. Brilliant in the Stade de Reims jersey, Hugo Ekitike made a giant leap in the summer of 2022 by joining Paris Saint-Germain in the form of a loan with an option to purchase. An operation worth 35 million euros in total. For a season, the French striker tried to make his mark under the orders of Christophe Galtier and in a locker room populated with stars. In 32 appearances in all competitions, including 14 as a starter, he scored 4 goals and provided 4 assists. Then, when summer came, the capital club officially exercised its purchase option.
Definitely in Paris, the native of Reims wanted to take advantage of the arrival of the new coach to score points. Especially since Luis Enrique selected him during the summer tour organized in Asia. Back in France, Ekitike fell 15 floors when he was summoned with Marco Verratti, Neymar and Juan Bernat to his coach’s office. Accompanied by Luis Campos, Luis Enrique told him, as well as the other players, that he was not part of his plans. Sent to the famous loft, the center forward, who appeared only once this season at PSG against Lorient (August 12, 9 minutes played), listened to the offers.
The Ekitike soap opera is finally over
Several Premier League clubs, including West Ham, as well as Eintracht Frankfurt have positioned themselves. Paris also had a preference for the German track since the idea was to include Ekitike in the Randal Kolo Muani deal. But the former Reims player refused, which upset Nasser Al-Khelaïfi. If RKM finally came to the capital, Ekitike remained at the dock due to lack of agreement. Placarded, he therefore trained with his team in recent months but he was not called up for the matches. A difficult situation for the player, who gritted his teeth while waiting for the winter transfer window.
During the month of January, several clubs including Wolfsburg, Wolverhampton, Crystal Palace, West Ham and Frankfurt were linked to him. And after long negotiations which stretched until the last day of the transfer window, the 21-year-old player, who made waves during Fashion Week, has finally found the right fit. “The French striker signs with Eintracht Frankfurt until June 30, 2024 as part of a loan with option to buy.” An exciting new challenge for Hugo Ekitike, who will be keen to show that he has talent and that PSG was wrong about him.
Written by:
Manu Tournoux is a passionate and knowledgeable football enthusiast with a special focus on French football. Born and raised in France, Manu discovered his love for the beautiful game at a young age and developed a deep understanding of the ins and outs of "Le Championnat." His French roots and extensive experience in football journalism have made him an invaluable asset to the French Football Weekly team. As an author for the website, Manu's expertise includes not only in-depth analysis of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 matches but also insightful profiles of up-and-coming talents, detailed transfer news, and engaging coverage of the French national team. His captivating writing style and undeniable passion for the game have earned him a loyal following among our readers. When he's not crafting engaging articles for French Football Weekly, Manu enjoys attending live matches whenever he can, exploring football culture in various French cities, and engaging in spirited debates with fellow fans. Feel free to follow Manu on Twitter and interact with him as he shares his expert opinions, insights, and love for French football.
